Everton & Potton from Sandy

This is a pleasant walk through the Bedfordshire countryside with a variety of scenery and some interesting points of interest along the way.

Technical sheet

n°293142

A Sandy walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 13/09/16

Activity: Walking
Distance: 19.14 km
Calculated time: 5h 45
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 91 m
Vertical drop: - 88 m
Highest point: 78 m
Lowest point: 20 m

District: Sandy
Start/End: N 52.128122° / W 0.286728°
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Description

(S/E)This walks starts in Sandy from the car park at grid ref. TL173491. After parking turn left along High Street for just under 200 metres. Turn left into Cherrycroft, then right into Stonecroft and after 25 metres locate the alleyway on your left. This leads across the railway to the Pinnacle Recreation Ground. Continue straight across the field into woodland following the waymarked path to the left. Reaching Sand Lane (grid ref. TL178493), turn right. After 500 metres turn left onto the Greensand Ridge Walk (grid ref. TL183492).

(1)This long distance path leads through fields and along farm tracks and paths to reach Tempsford Road (grid ref. TL190517). Cross the road carefully and continue ahead following a signed bridleway. The path joins an old runway past Gibraltar Farm. This former RAF airfield was one of the most secret in Britain during World War 2. Just over 300 metres beyond Gibraltar Farm you reach a junction of paths (grid ref. TL194528). Here bear right and continue past Joan's Wood and Hare Home Wood towards Woodbury Sinks.

(2)Reaching a field gate (grid ref. TL209526), leave the concrete track and bear left ascending past Woodbury Sinks (on your left) to follow a track to reach the Greensands Ridge Walk at a junction. Turn right here and follow the waymarked path through the Woodbury Estate to Story Farm (grid ref. TL207517). Continue straight ahead along the clear track into the centre of Everton.

(3)At the Thornton Arms public house turn left and follow Potton Road for just one a kilometre. Note that there is no path alongside this road so do take care with passing traffic. Reaching Ashmore Farm (grid ref. TL 210505) turn right onto a byway. After 400 metres (grid ref. TL209502) turn left into Mill Lane. Continue along this track to Potton. Mill Lane leads into Everton Road which is followed in an easterly direction before turning right into Willow Road. Continue to the T-junction (grid ref. TL220491) with Blackbird Street. The walk continues right here however the Royal Oak public House is a short distance on the left should you wish to have lunch or get some refreshments.

(4)Continue ahead into Station Road. After 300 metres turn right into Newtown, then turn left into Old Bedford Road. This leads into a bridleway which is followed in a westerly direction to reach a junction with a tarmac road (grid ref. TL207495). Go straight across passing the Sandy transmitter on your left. After 800 metres turn left to follow the Long Riding bridleway to reach Potton Road. Cross the road carefully and enter the Lodge (the National HQ of the RSPB). Immediately inside the entrance gates turn right along the waymarked Fir's Trail and continue towards Sandy. Reaching Potton Road (grid ref. TL183485), bear left and follow the pavement back into Sandy and the start of the walk.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 32 m - Start: Sandy High Street car park
1 : km 1.34 - alt. 57 m - Turn left onto Greensands Ridge Walk
2 : km 7.17 - alt. 52 m - Woodbury Sinks
3 : km 9.21 - alt. 67 m - Turn left at the Thornton Arms
4 : km 12.7 - alt. 46 m - Royal Oak public house
S/E : km 19.14 - alt. 32 m - Finish: Sandy High Street car park

Useful Information

The route is based on one produced by Central Bedfordshire Council which has been extended to include lunch at the Royal Oak in Potton.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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Reviews and comments

3.3 / 5

Based on 3 reviews

Clarity of route description
3.3 / 5

Clarity of route map
3.3 / 5

Walk interest
3.3 / 5

dangerousjim51

25 Dec 2023 at 06:44 EST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 25/12/23
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Good walk .I would like to point out that if you plan to do the walk on a Monday the Royal Oak pub doesn't open for lunch

Delphinium

04 Apr 2022 at 06:47 EDT

Hi there!

Thank you for this information!

alfo72

03 Apr 2022 at 06:07 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 02/04/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Admittedly I didn't use the written description, just the GPX on a map, but found following it very easy. All the footpaths were well marked and maintained, although there was a little more time walking on roads than I had hoped for.

One word of warning, the footpath through Woodbury Estate passes through a field which (in April at least) was occupied by a reasonably large herd of cattle. Possibly unwise to walk through with dogs, or if you're wary of them. We chose to continue straight on and run down the road to the east of Everton (which contributed to the "too much tarmac" feel of the middle section).

Sarita J

21 Aug 2018 at 08:46 EDT

Sorry to hear this. Could you let us know where you had trouble with the walk description so we can try and make it clearer?
Many thanks,
Sarita
Hikideas Moderator

piedrina73

31 Jul 2018 at 06:53 EDT

Overall rating : 1.3 / 5

Date of walk : 06/04/20
Clarity of route description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Walk interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

Directions and route map were not clear to follow so we were lost and couldn't do the walk. Very disappointed.

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